3 weeks ago
Mumbai Court Grants Bail to Seven TISS Students, Rejects Two
A court in Mumbai made a decision about some university students.
The students go to a school called TISS, which stands for Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
They had gathered near a dormitory to remember a late activist named G.N. Saibaba.
Some of them also asked for two other people, Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, to be let out of jail.
Seven students were allowed to stay out of jail while their case continues.
Two other students, Kamakhya Das and Abhirup Paul, were not given that permission.
Police took their laptops and phones and found books connected to a group called the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
The judge said reading or downloading books is not a crime by itself.
But the judge wanted the police to question those two students more closely about their intentions.
The judge also thought the words the students used to remember the activist were unusual, so some students are free for now while the others must keep cooperating with the investigation.
A Mumbai sessions court granted anticipatory bail to seven TISS students and rejected the pleas of two others, Kamakhya Das and Abhirup Paul, on August 7, 2026.
The students were booked over an October 12, 2025 gathering at TISS to pay homage to G.N. Saibaba and for allegedly raising slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, former JNU students facing trial under the UAPA.
The court questioned the phrase 'Rest in Power (1967–Forever)' used by the accused instead of 'Rest in Peace,' saying it raised doubts about the conduct of Das and Paul.
Police seized laptops and mobile phones from Das and Paul that reportedly contained books by Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin and Kobad Ghandy, along with CPI (Maoist) publications, with some content allegedly deleted.
The court said downloading Maoist books alone would not amount to an offence, but found custodial interrogation of Das necessary to ascertain her intention, coupled with the slogans allegedly raised.
- Who
- Seven students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) granted anticipatory bail, and Kamakhya Das and Abhirup Paul, whose pleas were rejected; Additional Sessions Judge V B Bohra presided over the hearing.
- What
- A hearing on anticipatory bail applications in which the court granted bail to seven TISS students and rejected the pleas of two others booked after allegedly gathering to pay homage to G.N. Saibaba and raising slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
- Where
- Mumbai, outside a hostel on the TISS Deonar campus.
- When
- Friday, August 7, 2026; the gathering took place between 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm on October 12, 2025.
- Why
- The students gathered to mark the death anniversary of G.N. Saibaba, who was acquitted by the Bombay High Court in 2024; the court granted the seven bail because no incriminating material was found against them, while the slogans and recovered material raised doubts about Das and Paul.
Students and their defence
Prosecution and the court
Gathering and slogans
Students and their defence
The students denied raising any slogans, saying they were booked based on 'false narratives' spread on social media, and that the spontaneous gathering was to advocate disability rights and acknowledge Saibaba's years in jail.
Prosecution and the court
The court held that slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who face trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), indicated the act went beyond paying homage; as students they were expected to respect the law of the land.
Downloaded books and Maoist material
Students and their defence
The defence argued the downloaded books did not establish any affiliation with Maoist ideology and were freely available for purchase.
Prosecution and the court
The prosecution said the devices contained 'objectionable material' linked to the banned CPI (Maoist); the court noted the books, though not banned, reportedly instigate or aid the division of India and warranted custodial interrogation of Das to ascertain her intention.
Legacy of G.N. Saibaba
Students and their defence
The court acknowledged that paying homage to Saibaba, a former Delhi University professor who was acquitted by the Bombay High Court in 2024, cannot be termed illegal.
Prosecution and the court
The prosecution submitted that Saibaba was an active member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and that an appeal against his acquittal was pending before the Supreme Court.
Key facts
- Court
- Mumbai Sessions Court (Additional Sessions Judge V B Bohra)
- Bail granted to
- 7 TISS students: Uttkarsh Khuntia, Yash Kaundilya, Avantika, Ishpreet Kaur, Nikita Monica Dsouza, Hardika Bhagat, Satyam Yadav
- Bail rejected
- Kamakhya Das and Abhirup Paul
- FIR
- Filed by Trombay police on a complaint by the TISS administration; later transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch
- Incident date
- October 12, 2025
- Alleged slogans
- Demanding release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
- Items seized
- Laptops and mobile phones from Das and Paul, with some content allegedly deleted
- Books found on devices
- Selected Works of Mao Zedong; The Right of Nations to Self-Determination by Vladimir Lenin; Caste and Revolution by N Ravi; Fractured Freedom by Kobad Ghandy; CPI (Maoist) publications
Quotes
Mumbai Sessions Court judge
Judge commenting on downloaded books
“No doubt G N Saibaba came to be acquitted of charges levelled against him and, therefore, act of paying homage to him by accused persons cannot be termed as illegal. However, the act of accused persons appeared to be not limited to paying him homage. They even allegedly raised slogans in the nature of releasing Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam from jail, who are facing trial for an offence under UAPA i.e. unlawful activities against the Nation.”
indianexpress.com
“No doubt, mere downloading the books published by the Maoist organisation would not amount to an offence. However, the books though not banned by the Government, but reportedly instigating or aiding the division of India… the court said, adding that it showed they were allegedly inspired by the thinking or ideology of Maoists, and that the gathering was part of action to implement the same on other students.”
indianexpress.com
Mumbai Sessions Court
Judge of the Mumbai Sessions Court
“"No doubt, merely downloading books published by a Maoist organisation would not amount to an offence. However, the books, though not banned by the government, are reportedly capable of instigating or aiding the division of India."”
freepressjournal.in
“"Rest in Power (1967–Forever)" was used by the accused instead of the usual "Rest in Peace" during the homage gathering.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
GN Saibaba event: No anticipatory bail for 2 TISS students over slogans to free Umar, Sharjeel
Mumbai Sessions Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To 7 TISS Students, Rejects Pleas Of 2 In G N Saibaba Gathering Case
Two TISS students denied anticipatory bail for alleged slogans supporting Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam
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